AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) looks forward to welcoming the Adelaide Crows AFLW team to Darwin once again off the back of the AFL releasing the 2019 NAB AFLW fixture today.
Considered to be a home game due to the Crows ongoing partnership with AFLNT and the Northern Territory Government, TIO Stadium will play host to the Round 4 Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle game at 8:05pm ACST on Saturday 23 February.
It’s sure to be an exciting occasion, with the Darwin fixture always providing a nail-biter. Last year’s game against Fremantle went the way of the Crows by only four points, and in the team’s 2017 premiership year they fell short by two points when they faced Melbourne.
With the addition of two new teams, North Melbourne and the Geelong Cats, the AFLW will adopt a conference system for the 2019 season.
Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Fremantle and North Melbourne join Adelaide in conference A.
Brisbane Lions, GWS Giants, Collingwood, Carlton and the Geelong Cats make up conference B.
The NT will continue to have Adelaide players based out of Darwin and training at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre.
The Round 4 fixture set down coincides with the first weekend of the 2018/19 TIO NTFL finals, with AFLNT CEO Stuart Totham saying the league would work with NTFL clubs to put on a great showcase of local and national talent.
“We’ve been given plenty of notice which means we can now plan how we best fit our first weekend of NTFL finals with the AFLW game.
“We will consult with our clubs along the way and we’re sure we will land with another thrilling weekend of footy that fans will soak up and enjoy,” Totham said.
The Adelaide Crows are also scheduled to host an AFLW pre-season camp and game in Darwin, with the dates TBC.
AFL spokesperson Jay Allen said despite there being no formal agreement in place to play AFLW matches in Alice Springs, the Melbourne Football Club played their first AFLW game in Central Australia last season and had indicated a desire to do so again in the future.
“Unfortunately, due to pre-existing cricket arrangements for TIO Traeger Park our access to the venue was limited and we were not able to match up with the demands placed on the ten AFLW clubs and their wider fixture requests, including breaks between matches and travel.
“The AFL remains focused on growing the game through the Northern Territory via participation, the Next Generation Academies and in hosting AFL matches.
“With the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership season fixture being released next week, we are looking forward to making an announcement about football in the Territory for the 2019 AFL season,” he said.
Totham said it was disappointing to not have an AFLW game in Alice Springs for premiership points but the AFL and AFLNT remain committed to the region and developing a plan for the future.
“We have hosted a couple of footy forums with the Central Australian football community and stakeholders recently, and one of the greatest points of feedback we received was how much the people of Alice Springs love when the AFL comes to town.
“It would’ve been great to host another AFLW game next season, but we understand the complex nature of creating national fixtures that take into account the requirements of all the clubs.
“We will continue to work with the local community and the AFL to make sure the footy-loving people of Central Australia get their opportunity to get along to the elite game and also the Thunder men and women,” Totham said.
Download the full 2019 NAB AFLW fixture here.